By Texas Metro News Staff
With less than 10 hours of deliberations and no questions or additional instructions, a jury convicted former Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin on all charges in the death of George Floyd.
In an emotionally-charged trial that lasted three weeks, Judge Peter Cahill read the verdict late Tuesday afternoon from the seven women and five men that decided Mr. Chauvin, 45, was guilty. He was charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of Mr. Floyd on a street corner last Memorial Day.
President Joe Biden said the decision could be the moment of significant change. He called on the nation to unify.
Floyd’s murder “ripped the blinders off for the whole world to see,” the president said.
President Biden said he had reached out to the Floyd family, praising them. Still, he said, “We can’t think our work is done. Today’s verdict is a step in the right direction,” he said, “…a step toward justice in America.”
His thoughts were echoed by Vice President Kamala Harris, who cautioned that “a measure of justice is not the same as equal justice” and that “racism is a problem for everyone.”
Mr. Chauvin was charged in connection with kneeling on Mr. Floyd’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds while he was handcuffed and lay prone against a city street.
In Dallas, Dominique Alexander, president and founder of Next Generation Action Network, called the verdict “bittersweet” and noted that Mr. Chauvin had a look of disbelief as the verdict was being read.
“Even he didn’t even believe it,” said Mr. Alexander. “He didn’t believe it because of this culture of policing that has allowed him through his years of service, has allowed him to feel like he can get away with murder.”
June Jenkins, President, Collin County NAACP, said she was ecstatic that the former officer was found guilty on all three charges.
“And while I’m ecstatic about this case, it’s just the beginning of a long road or continuation of a long-winding road, I feel,” she said, citing a case in Collin County where law enforcement officials are being investigated.
“I’m hopeful. I think it’s a good sign that they came back that quickly,” she said. “I’m glad that justice was served in this case but there are many, many more cases that are ahead of us and many more that were previous to this case.
“I’m glad that with this particular case we were able to see justice served and look forward to seeing the same thing here in the Collin County community with some of the things we’ve got going on.”
Ms. Jenkins referenced Marvin Scott III who was in the custody of police at the time of his death.
Once the verdict was announced and each juror affirmed their decision, the State asked that bail for Mr. Chauvin be revoked and he was taken into custody.
He faces up to 40 years in prison for second-degree murder, up to 25 years for third-degree murder and up to 10 years for second-degree manslaughter.
Many talked about the video of Mr. Floyd, lying in the street while then-Officer Chauvin placed his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck, ignoring his pleas for relief. President Biden noted that his last words were: “I can’t breathe.”
Despite the concern of possible social unrest had the verdict come back “not guilty,” the president said the Floyd family was “calling for peace and tranquility no matter what that verdict is and I’m praying the verdict is the right verdict.”
That verdict, according to Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price, was already written. “The system is not vindicated by one case. He’s not the poster boy for justice.”
Referencing Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines, the commissioner said the judge has very little discretion and the trial “couldn’t have been scripted any better.”
“Not taking anything away from the prosecution because it wasn’t anything they could have added or deleted,” he said. What mattered was “whether or not the 12 jurors were woke.”
There was a collective sigh of relief as many cities and citizens had mentally and physically prepared for marches and demonstrations.
More than 3,000 National Guard troops were deployed to Minneapolis-St. Paul ahead of the verdict.
Dallas prepared as some establishments began boarding up their windows in anticipation.
Upon hearing news of the verdict, Mayor Eric Johnson said, “A jury of Derek Chauvin’s peers has delivered justice in the only way that they could. Ultimately, the rule of law prevailed.
“We still have more work ahead of us to make our city stronger, safer, and more equitable but, today, the system worked.”
Sgt. Michael Mata, president of the 2800-member Dallas Police Association, said that he respects the jury’s decision in Mr. Chauvin’s case.
“The only thing I have asked for is due process,” he said. “He was charged with the crime. He had a jury of his peers with the ultimate decision. I will always respect the jury and the verdict.”
But Sgt. Mata added that Mr. Chauvin should not have been charged with murder.
“It was a stacked deck,” said Sgt. Mata. “It was negligence or manslaughter at the most. I still don’t understand how you have three charges for the same act.”
Meanwhile social media, as was expected, was flooded with commentary from everyone from athletes and entertainers to educators and elected officials, media moguls and philanthropists.
Aside from Mr. Chauvin, three fellow officers were charged: Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng.
Journalist Roland Martin provided commentary on his daily digital show #RolandMartinUnfiltered along with a variety of experts to discuss the trial including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s Sherrilyn Ifill and former police officer Cheryl Dorsey, author of Black & Blue (The Creation of a Manifesto): The True Story of an African-American Woman on the LAPD and the Powerful Secrets She Uncovered.
Mr. Martin said the conviction Tuesday puts officers on notice across the country as they watched Mr. Chauvin taken away in handcuffs, “The verdict sends a loud and clear message!”
Texas Metro News staff members Rebecca Aguilar, Eva D. Coleman, Dorothy Gentry, Stephenetta (isis) Harmon, Valerie Fields-Hill, Marva Sneed, and Cheryl Smith contributed to this report.
